Washington: Indo-US bilateral relations have witnessed a sea change since the end of the cold war, and now "more positive interactions" are becoming the norms, a US Congressional body has said.

India's "swift offer of full support" for the US-led anti-terrorism operations after September 2001 "is widely viewed as reflective of such change," The Congressional Research Services (CRS) said in a report.

At the same time the CRS, which advises the Congress, said that continuing US concern in South Asia focuses on "competing claims" between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, human rights issues and "slow and inconsistent" movement towards economic reforms and market opening.

Referring to Sino-Indian relations, CRS noted that India and China fought a brief but intense border war in 1962, and said that China's long-term nuclear weapons capabilities and strategic intentions in South and South East Asia are adding to New Delhi's "sense of insecurity".

Beijing's military and economic support for Pakistan – which is widely believed to have included weapons of mass destruction related transfers – is a major and ongoing source of friction in Sino-Indian tie, it said, adding Chinese support for Pakistan's Kashmir position has added to the discomfort of Indian leaders.

PTI